Round 9 Draft: Phoenix Foundation vs. (3 x 1) -1 + 1

Brian David-Marshall

That is the only word you can use to describe Phoenix Foundation's devastating run through the Team Rochester Draft format. They were riding a sixteen match winning streak at Pro Tour events coming into this round. As dominant a Pro Tour presence as team leader Kai Budde has been at individual Pro Tours, his performances with his wingmen Dirk Baberowski and recent Grand Prix champion Marco Blume has been nothing short of staggering.

When asked in a quick question about what it would take to derail Kai and company, Jon Finkel answered simply, "Random variance." Enter the random variance.

(3 x1) -1 +1 is pretty random as far as team names go. In fact, no one seems to know what it means. It was an early morning name change after the first choice was deemed too "unsavory" for the competition. Mike Long is the most recognizable name on the team followed closely by recently unbanned Justin Schneider and yet neither of them is sitting in the pilot seat for this event. Their B player--with the unappealing job of taking down Kai--is Mike Krzywicki. This unlikely trio ran roughshod over the competition at Grand Prix - Pittsburgh and was looking to put an impressive notch in their collective belts.

They needed the win for more than just bragging rights, though. They took a back-breaking draw in the previous round when Krzywicki's opponent stole the second game with an unexpected Brain Freeze. It should also be noted that Phoenix Foundation was not a lock for Sunday yet. They needed one more victory to lock their third straight Sunday appearance.

While many notable competitors had elected to "receive" in this tournament--most notably the CMU-TOGIT crew and Bob Maher's team--you have to lend the opposing point of view more than a little credence when Kai's team chooses to kick off, which is what happened this round.

Onslaught Pack One

Kai Budde

Daru Lancer

Crown of Vigor

Dirk Baberowski

Daunting Defender

Fever Charm

Justin Schneider

Vitality Charm

Invigorating Boon

Mike Krzywicki

Barren Moor

Demystify

Mike Long

Serpentine Basilisk

Mistform Stalker

Marco Blume

Riptide Biologist

Spined Basher

Onslaught Pack Two

Dirk Baberowski

Kamahl, Fist of Krosa

Goblin Burrows

Justin Schneider

Elvish Warrior

Run Wild

Mike Krzywicki

Glory Seeker

Profane Prayers

Mike Long

Choking Tethers

Disruptive Pitmage

Marco Blume

Tranquil Thicket

Wretched Anurid

Kai Budde

Crown of Suspicion

Cabal Executioner

Onslaught Pack Three

Justin Schneider

Spitting Gourna

Mike Krzywicki

Jareth, Leonine Titan

Mike Long

Shock

Marco Blume

Imagecrafter

Backslide

Kai Budde

Dirge of Dread

Disciple of Grace

Dirk Baberowski

Daru Cavalier

Chain of Vapor

Onslaught Pack Four

Mike Krzywicki

Inspirit

Mike Long

Shock

Marco Blume

Read the Runes

Headhunter

Kai Budde

Screeching Buzzard

Fallen Cleric

Dirk Baberowski

Shieldmage Elder

Mage's Guile

Justin Schneider

Secluded Steppe

Charging Slateback

Onslaught Pack Five

Mike Long

Mistform Skyreaver

Foothill Guide

Marco Blume

Centaur Glade

Skirk Prospector

Kai Budde

Cruel Revival

Unified Strike

Dirk Baberowski

Vitality Charm

Annex

Justin Schneider

Spitting Gourna

Erratic Explosion

Mike Krzywicki

Shepherd of Rot

Riptide Biologist

Onslaught Pack Six

Marco Blume

Choking Tethers

Kai Budde

Cruel Revival

Crown of Suspicion

Dirk Baberowski

Grassland Crusader

Demystify

Justin Schneider

Cover of Darkness

Haunted Cadaver

Mike Krzywicki

Daru Lancer

Crude Ramparts

Mike Long

Charging Slateback

Aphetto Grifter

Legions Pack One

Marco Blume

Keeneye Aven

Mike Long

Skirk Marauder

Blade Sliver

Mike Krzywicki

Daru Stinger

Wall of Hope

Justin Schneider

Lavaborn Muse

Berserk Murlodant

Dirk Baberowski

Nantuko Vigilante

Skirk Outrider

Kai Budde

Withered Wretch

Infernal Caretaker

Legions Pack Two

Mike Long

Goblin Clearcutter

Voidmage Apprentice

Mike Krzywicki

Aven Redeemer

Hunter Sliver

Justin Schneider

Feral Throwback

Goblin Grappler

Dirk Baberowski

Liege of the Axe

Glintwing Invoker

Kai Budde

Smokespew Invoker

Shaleskin Plower

Marco Blume

Primoc Escapee

Patron of the Wild

Legions Pack Three

Mike Krzywicki

Wingbeat Warrior

Goblin Turncoat

Justin Schneider

Skirk Marauder

Bloodstoke Howler

Dirk Baberowski

Keeneye Aven

Crookclaw Elder

Kai Budde

Corpse Harvester

Embalmed Brawler

Marco Blume

Seedborn Muse

Nantuko Vigilante

Mike Long

Daru Stinger

Patron of the Wild

Legions Pack Four

Justin Schneider

Aven Warhawk

Bloodstoke Howler

Dirk Baberowski

Wingbeat Warrior

Blade Sliver

Kai Budde

Graveborn Muse

Goblin Turncoat

Marco Blume

Patron of the Wild

Glowering Rogon

Mike Long

Mistform Wakecaster

Infernal Caretaker

Mike Krzywicki

Gempalm Avenger

Starlight Invoker

Legions Pack Five

Dirk Baberowski

Primoc Escapee

Berserk Murlodant

Kai Budde

Wingbeat Warrior

Goblin Turncoat

Marco Blume

Wirewood Channeler

Glowering Rogon

Mike Long

Riptide Director

Skirk Drill Sergeant

Mike Krzywicki

Starlight Invoker

Infernal Caretaker

Justin Schneider

Krosan Vorine

Patron of the Wild

Legions Pack Six

Kai Budde

Aven Redeemer

Whipgrass Entangler

Marco Blume

Timberwatch Elf

Nantuko Vigilante

Mike Long

Echo Tracer

Daru Sanctifier

Mike Krzywicki

Smokespew Invoker

Gempalm Polluter

Justin Schneider

Goblin Goon

Frenetic Raptor

Dirk Baberowski

Deftblade Elite

Willbender

Scourge Pack One

Kai Budde

Lingering Death

Dirk Baberowski

Aven Farseer

Temple of the False God

Justin Schneider

Root Elemental

Krosan Drover

Mike Krzywicki

Chill Haunting

Reaping the Graves

Mike Long

Scattershot

Hindering Touch

Marco Blume

Dispersal Shield

Frontline Strategist

Scourge Pack Two

Dirk Baberowski

Zombie Cutthroat

Justin Schneider

Chill Haunting

Mike Krzywicki

Soul Collector

Mike Long

Frozen Solid

Marco Blume

Riptide Survivor

Kai Budde

Zealous Inquisitor

Scourge Pack Three

Justin Schneider

Root Elemental

Mike Krzywicki

Lingering Death

Mike Long

Shoreline Ranger

Marco Blume

Chill Haunting

Kai Budde

Bonethorn Valesk

Karona's Zealot

Dirk Baberowski

Noble Templar

Daru Spiritualist

Scourge Pack Four

Mike Krzywicki

Dragon Scales

Mike Long

Zombie Cutthroat

Marco Blume

Frozen Solid

Temporal Fissure

Kai Budde

Torrent of Fire

Goblin Warchief

Dirk Baberowski

Zealous Inquisitor

Thundercloud Elemental

Justin Schneider

Spark Spray

Death-Head's Buzzard

Scourge Pack Five

Mike Long

Siege-Gang Commander

Marco Blume

Rush of Knowledge

Kai Budde

Vengeful Dead

Dirk Baberowski

Zealous Inquisitor

Justin Schneider

Scattershot

Wirewood Guardian

Mike Krzywicki

Karona's Zealot

Dragon Shadow

Scourge Pack Six

Marco Blume

Rush of Knowledge

Kai Budde

Zombie Cutthroat

Dirk Baberowski

Dragon Scales

Justin Schneider

Root Elemental

Accelerated Mutation

Mike Krzywicki

Aven Liberator

Karona's Zealot

Mike Long

Rock Jockey

Goblin Warchief

After the draft was over, everyone who was gathered along the rail agreed on one thing. Random variance was looming over the Phoenix Foundation like Warren Sapp staring down a gimpy offensive lineman. They didn't make any glaring mistakes in the draft, but they were significantly out-opened. "I have literally never played in a draft like this in anny format," said a stunned Dirk moments after the draft. "Kai is winning, but we're about to lose. If we do win it is not going to be on my shoulders, I'll tell you that."

When asked about the draft, Marco just shook his head slowly with a look of embarrassment. When pushed for a comment on what exactly he felt was missing to make his deck better he shrugged, "Even a Coast Watcher would have been nice." He was somewhat surprised at some of the draft errors he felt that his opponent made. His only hope to win was his Centaur Glade and yet they let him get Nantuko Vigilante after Vigilante on the way back.

Everyone agreed that Kai had a favorable matchup, but Kai was quick to downgrade it from "very good" to a mere "good" matchup. Several spectators suggested that (3 x 1) -1 +1 had erred when they counter-drafted an Aven Warhawk form Dirk instead of a Graveborn Muse from Kai, but he disagreed. He believed that the Bird was a better card and that it would have given Dirk a shot in an otherwise hopeless match.

"Mike Long's deck is retarded!" -- Kai Budde

When asked about what cards he would have liked his team to see in order to swing the odds his team's way Kai laughed, "Siege-Gang Commander and a pair of Shocks maybe. All the stuff they opened."

(3 x 1) -1 +1 was less optimistic about their matchups. Justin was apprehensive about his chances against Marco. "His deck is good--he has two Rush of Knowledge and a Choking Tethers," complained Justin.

"Those two Rush of Knowledge at the end were pretty hard," was Mike Long's assessment while examining the Siege-Gang that had allowed the first Rush to get to Marco. "I don't pass this guy right?"

Krzywicki was adamant that you do not pass Siege-Gang and explained simply, "Rush of Knowledge helps you win games, but this guy flat out wins them." Despite Jareth and Soul Collector, he was not looking forward to facing Kai's deck. "He was just cutting red cards toward the end because his deck is so ridiculous!"

Long was pretty confident in his matchup but he had one concern, "I would gladly trade my Cutthroat for Dirk's Cutthroat--his is soooo much better than mine because I have all these quick beats." Mike was referring mainly to a pair of Goblin Brigands.

With apparently lopsided matches in Mike Long and Kai Budde's favor, it appeared as though the outcome of the overall match would come down to Justin and Marco. Mike tried to talk it up to the glum Schneider, "He's blue-green, and you should have an excellent chance. You know what card he can't deal with? Feral Throwback."